Compressed air operated sandbox for locomotives



Oct. 5, 1965 J. LLUBERA SOLER' 3,210,109

COMPRESSED AIR OPERATED SANDBOX FOR LOCOMOTIVES Filed March 18, 1963 FIG. 1

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INVENTOR JOSE LLUBERR SOLER man/W My United States Patent O "ice 3,210,109 COMPRESSED AIR OPERATED SANDBOX FOR LOCOMOTIVES Jos Llubera Soler, Diputacion 455, Barcelona,'Spain Filed -Mar. 18, 1963, Ser. No. 265,988 Claims priority, application Spain, Mar. 20, 1962, 275,609 8 Claims. (Cl. 291-11) The present invention relates to a compressed air operated sandbox for locomotives, especially for electric locomotives, diesels, self-propelled locomotives, tramways, and the like.

To enable the locomotive to develop its tractive effort, it is necessary for the wheels to have a certain coefiicient of adhesion which varies with the atmospherical conditions and with other accidental causes, such as, the loss of oil from a bearing so that the variation of the coefficient of adhesion and the tractive efiort of the locomotive varies between and of the adherent weight.

In order to eliminate this drawback, sandboxes are used which spread sand on the rail, increasing the coefiicient of adhesion to a value higher than under the best normal conditions and preventing the wheels from slipping with low coefiicient of adhesion.

These sandboxes consist of an apparatus comprising substantially one or several sand containers and an arrangement for delivering the sand from the container and through a sand pipe onto the rail in front of the wheels. In order to deliver the sand from the container and through the sand pipes, various means are used, either mechanical, or by means of steam, or by means of compressed air, such as forms the object of this patent.

These known sandboxes have the drawback of not allowing the quantity control of the sand which is delivered in irregular amounts. On the other hand, the sand consumption is higher than is absolutely necessary and it has been shown by tests and studies that, in order to obtain maximum efiiciency, the sand box must deliver on to the rail a certain amount of sand of the order of 0.225 kg./min. per wheel, and wherein the lack or excess relative to this amount produces lower adhesion and in ultimate cases an unnecessary expenditure of sand and of propelling energy.

It will therefore be convenient to provide a sandbox allowing the metering of the amount of sand in accordance with the optimum quantity required, a result which is practically impossible to obtain with conventional sandboxes.

In order to eliminate these disadvantages, the invention proposes a sandbox operated with compressed air of the type of those comprising a sand container coupled with an arrangement for expelling the sand by means of a jet of compressed air, in which the outlet orifice of the sand deposit communicates through a metering arrangement with a vertical chamber of larger diameter than that of the metering orifice, and the sand falls through said chamber in a free vertical fall which is partly interrupted at its end by means of the compressed air from a twyer of compressed air, located in a sand impulsion and reception chamber, communicating in turn with the conducting pipe for the sand to the rail.

In order to facilitate the understanding of these ideas and to explain the various details of the construction, the invention will be further described with reference to an embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, given merely by way of example and in a non-limitative manner with regard to possible modifications. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a coupler of sandboxes cooperating with one wheel, one sandbox for either direction of movement of the locomotive;

3,Zlll,l09 Fatented Oct. 5, 1965 FIG. 2 is an axial cross-section of the sand expelling unit;

FIG. 3 is a view of the box of the expelling unit;

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-section of the sand receptacle.

The sandbox consists of a container 1, a discharge device or assembly or fitting 2 and a delivery pipe 3 for the sand 4 to a point of the rail 5 in front of the tangential point 6 of the wheel 7 of the locomotive.

The container 1 is formed by a box of generally parallelopipedal shape, the inclined bottom 8 of which terminates in an orifice 9 communicating with the discharge device 2, and being closed on top by a cover 10 with a sealing joint 11. Internally, at distinct levels, the box has perforated plates 12 each of which covers the entirety of the transverse section of the box. The cover 10 is fitted to the box by means of clamps or clips 13.

The delivery unit 2 consists of a box 14 which contains a metering arrangement such as an interchangeable orifice plate 15, a vertical conduit 16, a twyer 17 and two threaded stoppers 18 and 19.

The box 14 of the delivery unit 2 forms internally a chamber 20 for impelling and receiving the sand and two conduits 21 and 22 communicating therewith, the first directly for the discharge of the sand, and the second through the twyer 17 for the inlet of compressed air. The delivery conduit 21 presents on its outer part a threaded portion 23 for connecting the delivery pipe 3 for the sand to the rail 5. Similarly, also the inlet 22 for the compressed air has a threaded portion 24. The impulsion chamber 20 has on its delivery orifice 25 a rim 26 at a higher level relative to the inlet orifice 27 for the sand 4 into said chamber.

The metering device 15 is formed by a socket, the centre orifice 28 of which is calibrated to ensure the accurate metering of the sand 4 passing through the container 1 to the impulsion chamber 20, presenting its countersunk end faces 29 to the centre orifice 28.

The vertical conduit 16 defines the vertical chamber 30 through which the sand 4 falls in free vertical fall due to the fact that the diameter of this chamber is greater than that of the metering orifice 28. This vertical conduit 16 is connected to the metering arrangement 15 through a rim with a taper corresponding to the conicity of this metering device.

The twyer 17 is formed by a pipe which with one end intersects partly the fall 31 of the sand and which presents a restriction 33 after the manner of an injector communicating directly with the conduit 22 for the compressed air.

The threaded plug 18 closes the orifice machined in the box 14 in the axis of symmetry of the vertical chamber 30, and opens into the impulsion chamber 20 so that this orifice is permitting easy access to the chamber 20 in the case of obstruction. Similarly, the threaded plug 19 closes the orifice machined into the box 14 along the axis of symmetry of the twyer and allows access thereto in the case of obstruction.

The box 14 of the delivery unit 2 has a small plate 34 with holes 35, for bolts to connect it to the container 1, either directly or through a connecting member 36.

The sand pipe 3 is provided with the necessary curves to bring it above the rail.

The wheel 7 of the locomotive is shown with all its essential parts, such as the wheel spring 37, the axle bearing 38 and the shock absorbers 39. The operation of the sandbox is as follows: The sand from the container 1 descends under the action of gravity, passes through the various perforated plates 12 in a sitting movement and reaches the metering unit 15; here starts its regular movement in free fall 31 through the vertical chamber 30, further to the impulsion and receiving chamber 20, from where the compressed air from the twyer 3 17 delivers the sand through the delivery conduit 21. and the sand delivery pipe 3 to the point of the rail 5 in front of the tangential point 6 of the locomotive wheel 7, in order to improve the coeflicient of adhesion of the rail.

In the case in which the delivery, unit 2 has not been operated, the sand from the container 1 fills the chamber 30 and the impulsion chamber 20, whilst not passing above the edge 26, so that the sand does not flow.

In this situation, in order to operate the sanding device, the compressed air flowing through the twyer l7, expels the sand accumulated in these chambers 26 and 30 and causes the sand to fall immediately freely at 31 so as to initiate the regular operation of the sandbox.

In connection with the preceding description it should be stated that any practically suggestable modifications may be made to the embodiment shown, regarding the number of components, dimensions, the material used in the construction, in the arrangement of the accessories, without in any way departing from the principle of the invention as claimed hereinbefore, which represents merely an exemplified and non-limitative embodiment.

What is claimed is:

1. A compressed air operated sandbox for locomotives comprising a sealed sand container having a lower outlet, means defining a vertical chamber below said outlet, a metering device located between said lower outlet and said vertical chamber, said metering device comprising an orifice plate having oppositely facing frusto-conical surfaces adjacent each end connected by a metering passage of a size selected for the discharge of an optimum quantity of sand during operation, means defining a sand receiving chamber at the bottom of said vertical chamber and connected thereto, a duct laterally opening into said sand receiving chamber for delivering the sand to the rail from said chamber, a twyer for compressed air opening laterally into said sand receiving chamber at a location opposite from said duct, said duct having an upwardly inclined portion near said sand receiving chamber forming a wall for preventing occasional fall of sand from said sand receiving chamber.

2. A fluid pressure operated sandbox for locomotives comprising a sealed sand container having a lower outlet, an assembly connected to said sandbox adjacent said lower outlet and defining a vertical chamber below said outlet, a metering device carried by said assembly including an orifice plate located in alignment with said vertical chamber, said orifice plate defining a choke with an opening of a size less than the through flow area of said vertical chamber for limiting the quantity of sand flowing from said sandbox through said vertical chamber during operation, conduit means connected transversely into and out of said means defining the vertical chamber of said assembly, one end of said conduit means being adapted to be connected to a fluid pressure source and the other end providing a discharge passage for the sand.

3. A fluid pressure operated sandbox for locomotives comprising a sealed sand container having a lower outlet, an assembly connected to said sandbox adjacent said lower outlet and defining a vertical chamber below said outlet, a metering device carried by said assembly including an orifice plate located between said lower outlet and said vertical chamber, said orifice plate defining a choke passageway of a size less than the size of said vertical chamber horizontal cross section for the discharge of a controlled quantity of sand from said sandbox through said vertical chamber during operation, means defining a conduit connected transversely into and out of said means defining the vertical chamber of said assembly one end of which is adapted to be connected to a fluid pressure source and the other end of which provides a discharge for the sand, conduit means for supplying a pressure fluid extending transversely into said vertical chamber on one side and out of said vertical chamber on the opposite side for the discharge of sand therefrom, said conduit means also defining a sand accumulating chamber adjacent the lowermost portion of said vertical chamber, said conduit means having an oblique wall extending upwardly from the lowermost portion of said sand accumulating chamber in a direction toward the discharge conduit for sand for preventing sand discharge except when the device is operated by fluid pressure.

4. Apparatus for connection to a sandbox having an opening for the controlled discharge of sand therefrom comprising a fitting adapted to be connected to said sandbox adjacent the opening, said fitting defining a vertically elongated chamber adapted to be positioned in vertical alignment with the opening of the sandbox, an orifice plate carried by said fitting in alignment with said vertical chamber, said orifice plate having a choke opening therethrough of a size smaller than the maximum horizontal cross section of said vertical chamber for the discharge of a controlled quantity of sand from said sandbox through said vertical chamber, said fitting defining -a pressure fluid inlet conduit extending into said chamber from one side for a fluid under pressure and a sand discharge conduit extending outwardly from said chamber for the discharge of sand, said conduit being located adjacent the lower portion of said vertical chamber, whereby, when fluid under pressure is directed into said chamber, sand is directed out said discharge conduit in quantities controlled by the amount of sand which drops through said orifice opening from the sandbox.

5. Apparatus for connection to a sandbox having an opening for the controlled discharge of sand therefrom comprising a fitting adapted to be connected to said sandbox adjacent the opening, said fitting defining a vertically elongated chamber adapted to be positioned in vertical alignment with the opening of the sandbox, an orifioe plate carried by said fitting above said vertical chamber, said orifice plate having an opening therethrough of a size for the discharge of optimum quantity of sand from said sandbox into said vertical chamber, said fitting defining a pressure fluid inlet conduit extending into said chamber from one side for a fluid under pressure and a sand discharge conduit extending outwardly from said chamber for the discharge of sand on the opposite side from said fluid inlet conduit, said fluid inlet conduit and said discharge conduit being located adjacent the lower portion of said vertical chamber, whereby, when fluid under pressure is directed through said inlet conduit, sand is directed out said discharge conduit in quantities controlled by the amount of sand which drops through said orifice opening from the sandbox, said orifice plate having oppositely facing frustoconical surfaces at each end connected by a metering passage at the said opening of a size selected for the discharge of an optimum quantity of sand during operation.

6. Apparatus for connection to a sandbox having an opening for the controlled discharge of sand therefrom comprising a fitting adapted to be connected to said sandbox adjacent the opening, said fitting defining a vertically elongated chamber adapted to be positioned in vertical alignment with the opening of the sandbox, an orifice plate carried by said fitting above said vertical chamber, said orifice plate having an opening therethrough of a smaller size than the maximum horizontal cross section of said vertical chamber for the discharge of a controlled quantity of sand from said sandbox into said vertical chamber, said fitting defining a conduit extending into said chamber from one side for a fluid under pressure and a conduit extending outwardly from said chamber for the discharge of sand in alignment with said fluid inlet conduit, said discharge conduitfor sand including an upwardly sloping wall extending in a direction away from said vertical chamber for preventing the discharge of sand from the device when not connected to fluid pressure, said discharge conduit being located in respect to said vertical chamber so that, when fluid under pressure is directed through said inlet conduit, sand is directed out said discharge conduit in quantities controlled by the amount of sand which drops through said orifice opening from the sandbox.

7. Apparatus for connection to a sandbox having an opening for the controlled discharge of sand therefrom comprising a fitting adapted to be connected to said sand box adjacent the opening, said fitting defining a vertically' elongated chamber adapted to be positioned in vertical alignment with the opening of the sandbox, an orifice plate adapted to be carried by said fitting above said vertical chamber, said orifice plate having a choke opening therethrough of a size smaller than the maximum horizontal cross section of said vertical chamber for the discharge of optimum quantity of sand from said sandbox into said vertical chamber, said fitting defining a conduit extending into said chamber from one side for a fluid under pressure and a conduit extending outwardly from said chamber for the discharge of sand in alignment With said fluid inlet conduit, said fluid inlet conduit and said discharge conduit being located adjacent the lower portion of said vertical chamber, whereby, when fluid is directed through said inlet conduit, sand is directed out said discharge conduit in quantities controlled by the amount of sand which drops through said orifice opening from the sandbox, and a threaded member connected into said fitting directly below said vertical chamber for etfecting the clean-out of sand from said device.

8. A fluid pressure operated sandbox for locomotives comprising a sealed sand container having a lower out let, an assembly connected to said sandbox adjacent said lower outlet and defining a vertical chamber below said outlet, a choke device carried by said assembly and located between said lower outlet and said vertical chamber, said metering device defining a passageway of a size smaller than the maximum horizontal cross section of said vertical chamber for the discharge of a controlled quantity of sand from said sandbox to said vertical chamber during operation, conduit means connected transvers- 1y into and out of said means defining the vertical chamber of said assembly one end of which is adapted to be connected to a fluid pressure source and the other end of which provides a discharge for the sand, said sand container having a plurality of perforated horizontal plates located at spaced vertical elevations therethrough.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 896,968 8/08 Barnett 291-36 X 1,392,230 9/21 Shade 291-48 X 1,637,609 8/27 Gilmore 291-24 X 1,879,747 9/32 Hopkins 291-38 2,003,631 6/ Friedrich 291-48 X 2,259,593 10/41 Turner 291-11 2,304,878 12/42 Frantz 291-11 2,352,252 6/44 Canetta 291-41 2,638,369 5/53 Saari et a1. 291-11 2,710,121 6/55 Rees 291-36 X 2,727,770 12/15 Davis 291-11 3,020,072 2/62 Frantz 291-11 MILTON BUCHLER, Primary Examiner.

LEO QUACKENBUSH, Examiner. 

7. APPARATUS FOR CONNECTION TO A SANDBOX HAVING AN OPENING FOR THE CONTROLLED DISCHARGE OF SAND THEREFROM COMPRISING A FITTING ADAPTED TO BE CONNECTED TO SAID SANDBOX ADJACENT THE OPENING, SAID FITTING DEFINING A VERTICALLY ELONGATED CHAMBER ADAPTED TO BE POSITIONED IN VERTICAL ALIGNMENT WITH THE OPENING OF THE SANDBOXM AN ORIFICE PLATE ADAPTED TO BE CARRIED BY SAID FITTING ABOVE SAID VERTICAL CHAMBER, SAID ORIFICE PLATE HAVING A CHOKE OPENING THERETHROUGH OF A SIZE SMALLER THAN THE MAXIMUM HORIZONTAL CROSS SECTION OF SAID VERTICAL CHMABER FOR THE DISCHARGE OF OPTIMUM QUANTITY OF SAND FROM SAID SANDBOX INTO SAID VERTICAL CHAMBER, SAID FITTING DEFINING A CONDUIT EXTENDING INTO SAID CHAMBER FROM ONE SIDE FOR A FLUID UNDER PRESSUR EAND A CONDUIT EXTENDING OUTWARD-/ LY FROM SAID CHAMBER FOR THE DISCHARGE OF SAND IN ALIGNMENT WITH SAID FLUID INLET CONDUIT, SAID FLUID INLET CONDUIT AND SAID DISCHARGE CONDUIT BEING LOCATED ADJACENT THE LOWER PORTION OF SAID VERTICAL CHAMBER, WHEREBY, WHEN FLUID IS DIRECTED THROUGH SAID INLET CONDUIT, SAND IS DIRECTED OUT SAID DISCHARGE CONDUIT IN QUANTITIES CONTROLLED BY THE AMOUNT OF SAND WHICH DROPS THROUGH SAID ORIFICE OPENING FROM THE SANDBOX, AND A THREADED MEMBER CONNECTED INTO SAID FITTING DIRECTLY BELOW SAID VERTICAL CHAMBER FOR EFFECTING THE CLEAN-OUT OF SAND FROM SAID DEVICE. 